The
gaokao, China’s annual National Higher Education Entrance Examination, is known for being extremely difficult and a stressful rite of passage for Chinese students. Due to the society’s traditional emphasis on education
, many Chinese people still believe in a direct correlation between one’s diploma and one’s future income level and social standing. In many ways, the
gaokao today still resembles the civil service examination in imperial China, offering students (and their families) a merit-based opportunity for upward social mobility. A motivational banner popular on Chinese high school campuses says it all: “Without the
gaokao, how do we compete with someone who has a rich dad?” For a comprehensive look on this year’s